Harmony House celebrates 15 years in Belmont County
Trending
ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- Harmony House is celebrating 15 years of dedicated service to children and families in Belmont County.
The St. Clairsville office opened its doors on Aug. 25, 2011. The center has spent the past decade and a half establishing vital community partnerships to protect children, support victims of trauma and assist in holding offenders accountable.
The St. Clairsville location was made possible through early support from Belmont-Harrison-Noble Alliance Director of Communications Pam McCort, who connected founding Executive Director Leslie Vassilaros with regional leadership to address local service needs.
The office was granted an operational facility through the Belmont County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
During a recent anniversary recognition, Harmony House honored McCort and Superintendent and CEO Gloria Llewellyn for their instrumental support.
"This milestone isn’t just about celebrating a building or a date on a calendar," current Executive Director Jay Jack said. "It’s about celebrating 15 years of hard work, partnership and the people who believed that children in Belmont County deserved a place where they could be heard, protected, supported and treated with dignity."
The organization then acknowledged key contributions from county partners, including the Belmont County commissioners, Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services, local prosecutors, law enforcement, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner nurses, Tri-County Help Center, The Upper Ohio Valley Sexual Assault Help Center and Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Former founder Vassilaros and recently retired Executive Director Rita Coyne were both recognized for guiding the agency through the pandemic era. Both were thanked for shaping the organization.
Jack said Harmony House initially started in Wheeling in 2003.
"Truly, it was out of a closet-sized space and was a team of one. Because of the growing need, we entered Belmont County in 2011. At that time, it was just a boss, assistant, two interviewers and an advocate, with a part-time Community Ed person," Jack said. "That staff of 5 and a half has since grown to nine, introducing two therapists, a second advocate and making the Community Ed position full time."
He added that as the organization grew, it has been able to serve more families, provide trauma-focused services and expand community outreach.
"The one thing that has not changed is that all of our services remain 100% free of charge," Jack said.
He added that he began working for Harmony House in 2016, when he served as administrative manager.
In 2024, he was promoted to executive director upon Coyne's retirement.
Jack said that in his time working with the organization, he's seen both the saddest and the most inspiring moments one could imagine.
"I have been working with children and adults with special needs since 1999 in multiple roles and settings. At Harmony House, the big difference has been the emotional connections we make," Jack said. "We see families come in on perhaps their worst days. When they leave, we know that we are making a difference and addressing their trauma and letting them know they have a voice. And if they aren't ready to share that voice, we will support them and be their conduit through the healing process."
He added that whether it is direct services from staff, body safety education presentations in schools or just saying hello at back-to-school fairs, the organization is integrated in the community.
"People may not always know who we are or what we do, but they have heard of us. We're thankful to have media support to explain the who and what," Jack said. "We serve the Valley, address unsavory topics and work with families to cope with and process their traumatic experiences. We have seen thousands upon thousands of people and our work will never end until the topic of abuse is an arcane thing of the past."
He added that the staff are not prosecuting offenders, investigators or making arrests.
Jack said that the organization is asking vulnerable individuals the questions to help them get the help that they need.
Harmony House will host its annual Harmony Haunt on Oct. 17 from 6 to 10 p.m., with dinner being served from 7 to 8 p.m. The event is at Scottish Rite Cathedral, 83 14th St., in Wheeling.
The annual event is a Halloween fundraiser benefiting children impacted by abuse and neglect in the Ohio Valley.
Tickets are $40 per person, and the event is for those 21 and older only. It will feature ghost tours, live music, dancing, a costume contest, tarot readings, a 50/50 raffle, a basket raffle and food and beverages.